Despite so so finalists I think this had been of the best ones.

I think this one has been the worst. I've only seen series 3 onwards though, but I can't help but feel that the quality of the show is declining. The candidates are younger, more in there for entertainment value than business acumen and Sugar is softer by the series. He may have given Stewart a grilling last night, but Sugar from series 3 would've fired him the first chance he got. I remember he used to say he was looking for someone shrewd, and yet he fired Paloma over Alex and Sandeesh, who were as shrewd as a couple of deers caught in the headlights. And it isn't helping that the "You're Fired" show is turning it into a circus. I liked it far better under Adrian Chiles, back when it wasn't a complete parody and the candidates actually had to answer for their actions.

I agree that it's getting worse.

Not so much for the candidates who get through to the interviews but for some of the others.

Apparently they go through several rounds of interviews but no one seems to test them to see if they have basic business skills.

There's far too much emphasis on getting young, good looking, candidates and nowhere near enough on finding people with business flair.

On the other hand I've never been awaiting an episode of TA with the same eagerness as I was yesterdays.

I don't think it has been, but nothing will ever top the shambles of Series 4.

It's definitely the best-looking series.

I really disagree.

They've been a good looking bunch, sure... but by and large, the better looking candidates have been among the more successful ones. Liz was incredibly competent, Stella and Chris are both in the final, Paloma knew what she was doing as a businesswoman (although she talked herself out of it quite early on in the process)... they're clearly good businesspeople.

It's not like they've hired air-headed models - the less attractive ones have tended to be the less businesslike. Alex was probably the ditziest, and he looked like a bit like a squat hamster.

its been a good series with bad decisions

I don't like You're Fired as much any more

I used to enjoy it more than the main show but I've missed quite a few this season. It feels like Adrian Chiles enjoyed the show a bit more than Dara does

I'm sorry but that wasn't the only reason Paloma went. I can't believe how overrated she is on these boards. Yes, she should have outlasted some of the other candidates, but she really wasn't that great, and often didn't know what she was doing!

It's definitely one of those shows that's changed ever since it became popular and got pormoted to BBC1. In the first 2 series when I was a kid at uni thinking about my future career it seemed to be interesting genuine people.

Now it's just good 'entertainment value' people my age - Stuart Brands and Liz Lockes who are annoying idiots or labelled the best thing since sliced bread for being competent.

This years is better than last year's. There have been some credible candidates on this year but last year was just full of muppets (with the exception of Yasmina).

I don't think it's any different to when it started. I just think familiarity is breeding contempt here for those who have followed TA that long or too long. This year has seen some better candidates with Liz, Paloma Stella, and Christopher all looking decent contenders. Christopher has just been charged with fraud but looked good while on TA. Paloma had too much aggression and was very mouthy, which got her booted out earlier than necessary otherwise she seemed competent and intelligent. Stella is the pick of the bunch and should win, the best candidate since Ruth Badger who was runner up in S2.

It's probably my least favourite over all. Although S4 runs it close. The standard of candidates from both an entertainment point of view and a business point of view have been very low. The only candidates worth anything are Stuart (for entertainment) Joanna and Stella (for business), Paloma might have been good value too if she'd stayed a bit longer.

I totally and utterly (110% in Apprentice-speak) disagree. The female eye candy has been particularly poor this time round.

i have found myself losing interest during this series tbh.

I still think the first series was the best.

that was my second favourite, Series 3 was best to me.

It was nothing really special this series, though obviously preferable over the mess that was series 4.

It was obvious from the start that Stuart would be kept in for entertainment value (though it has to be said that he did keep himself out of the boardroom quite often) and that he would never even consider hiring Liz.

The decisions in the interview round didn´t have any logic behind them (Joanna being fired on account of knowing nothing about balance sheets,surely this would have come out in the selection process already).

Based on the second half of the series (which to me is the most important part), Chris and Joanna should have been in the final (Stella made many mistakes starting with the DVD movie task onwards).

Probably would rate even James (from last series) higher then the 2 finalists (or most of the candidates this series).

I think it has been a pretty good series. I would've loved to see Stuart on Ideal World though. Any ideas why a TV sales task wasn't used this series?

It's an improvement on last year but the first 3 series will be tough to top.

I didn't like it to start with, but i'm loving it now.

Just as long as Stella doesn't win, I'll be happy.

Pretty good. I enjoyed every episode and haven't lost my interest. Defintely one of the better ones.

It's only used in every other series.

It was used in series 1, 3 and 5.

I know what you mean. I like Dara a lot, but it does feel a bit like 'Mock The Apprentice' now. Chiles was able to get at more emotional stuff from the candidates too, without having to constantly make jokes- he seemed more empathetic.

It's been 'good' TV but the candidates aren't up to much at all IMO. I'm not impressed with their calibre...